Penguins Training Camp Will See Many Roster Battles
There will be no shortage of things to watch when the Pittsburgh Penguins open their 2023 training camp.
The opening of training camp for the Pittsburgh Penguins is just about three weeks away and it is not clear what the lineup structure will look like.
That’s a good problem to have as the Penguins will see battles for roster spots all over the lineup.
From the top line of the offense to the depth defensive roles, there will be no shortage of quality fights for positioning.
Starting with the first forward group, he may not be out for long, but someone has to step in and fill the void that will be left by Jake Guentzel to start the season.
The quick solution may be to just place Reilly Smith there, but this is an opportunity for a younger player like Alex Nylander, or even Valtteri Puustinen to make a name for themselves.
Puustinen saw a fait amount of time of Crosby’s wing during last years’ camp, and it may not be shocking to see him there again.
Moving down the lineup, the bottom six got a complete overhaul and plenty of surplus to pick from.
Lars Eller, Matt Nieto, and Noel Acciari are all joining the Penguins with likely locks on roster spots, but there is still room to see changes.
Andreas Johnsson, Vinnie Hinostroza, and Rem Pitlick will look to out-perform guys like Drew O’Connor, Jeff Carter, and Jonathan Gruden for depth roles.
Don’t forget that Radim Zohorna is also returning to the organization can can be a solid option.
It's also still possible Kyle Dubas isn't done adding to the offensive depth; Tomas Tatar is still looking for a contract and he may arrive in Pittsburgh on a tryout offer.
Turning to the defense, things are a little clearer, but it’s not yet obvious.
Acquiring Erik Karlsson did relieve some of the defensive log jam, and the top five blue liners are probably settled in, but who will compete for that final spot?
The Penguins still have plenty of defensive options; Chad Ruhwedel and Mark Friedman could easily play regular time, but Will Butcher has a ton to prove.
Maybe they want to see what Ty Smith can do on the opposite side of the ice, too.
The battle between the pipes is just about set with Tristan Jarry as the starter and Alex Nedeljkovic as the backup.
Magnus Hellberg could shock many and make a case for backup, but that doesn’t seem likely.
Camp is closing in and there will be no shortage battles all over the lineup; iron sharpens iron.
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
- Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube
- Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins